Why does nobody mention breaking in leather work boots step by step

I've owned Red Wing boots for about 7 years and always just wore them straight out of the box. Last month I was helping a buddy at his shop in Nashville and he asked how I conditioned them before first wear. I stared at him blankly. Turns out you're supposed to oil them and gradually increase wear time, not just jump into a 10 hour concrete day. My feet have been thanking me ever since. Did anyone else miss this basic step or was I just clueless?

2 comments

2 Comments

xena_kim1mo ago

Oh man, I used to be in the same boat, thought boots just needed time and sweat to break in. But after ruining a pair in a week last year, I finally tried the oil and slow wear method, and it's a total game changer. Now I get why folks make a big deal out of it, wish I'd known sooner.

jesse_nguyen1mo ago

Yikes, what oil did you use? I keep hearing mixed stuff about mink vs neatsfoot and don't wanna mess up another pair.